Lucas123 writes: Lawmakers this week filed bipartisan legislation that would give car owners control over data collected in black box-style recorders that may be required in all models as soon as next year. The move follows a separate proposal made earlier this month that would limit telecommunications companies in tracking viewer activity with new digital video recorders (DVR) technology. The "Black Box Privacy Protection Act" would give vehicle owners more control over the information collected through a car or motorcycle event data recorders, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed be required in all new cars as of 2014. "For me, this is a basic issue of privacy," said Rep. Mike Capuano (D-MA). "Many consumers aren't even aware that this technology is already in most vehicles." The second, more colorfully titled piece of legislation, is the "We Are Watching You Act". The bill was filed in response to reports that national telecommunications companies are exploring technology for DVRs that would record the personal activities of people as they watch television at home in order to target them for marketing and advertising. If implemented, among other things, when the recording device is in use, the words "WE ARE WATCHING YOU" would appear on the television screen. "This may sound preposterous, but it is neither a joke nor an exaggeration," Capuano said. "These DVRs would essentially observe consumers as they watch television as a way to super-target ads. It is an incredible invasion of privacy."

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